Yesterday I requested that anyone reading my posts leave a like or dislike as a means of letting me know whether anyone was reading or not. I was surprised at the response and grateful. A few even left actual comments! I really appreciate them taking the time to do so. I’m inspired to keep writing.

I did receive one comment that I have been thinking about ever since. It was pointed out that I sometimes make remarks regarding racial issues and how that effects others. My response to that remark was simply I just write my honest opinions, views and beliefs. I’m fully aware I am not always politically correct. I’ve been thinking about whether I have any effect on others or not. I find it difficult to believe that I would, much beyond, a brief bit of anger or sentiment. Perhaps I can make someone chuckle a bit, or share some information they weren’t aware of, but having any profound effect on anyone; I don’t think so.

Other peoples opinions, views or beliefs are only as powerful as you allow them to be. Unless that person is in some position of power over you that’s the way I see all that. While I was in the Navy I received quarterly performance reports, what were called evaluations. Your superior wrote those evaluations and passed them up the chain of command for review. A great deal rode on those, mostly your chances for advancement, ie: making more money and becoming the one writing those evaluations. Those words would indeed have an effect! I last wrote them in 1990. Since that time I don’t think anything I have written is of any significance to anyone else.

As for myself, I spend too much time on Facebook, I tell myself that often but continue anyway. What I’m reading really doesn’t effect me much. What I mean is, whatever I’m reading may incite me to comment, which I often do, but it doesn’t have any long term effect. I’ve noticed the majority of the posts are designed to do just that, stir the proverbial pot. I guess I shouldn’t, but I can’t help but join in, I’m amused at the reactions I get. Name calling, people looking at my profile page and questioning my “education” and all manner of things like that. I’m amused because those folks believe I give a hoot about what they say. It’s a guilty pleasure really getting the liberals all riled up. It’s just that it is so easy to do. I feel my comments are being received in the same way, just an amusement.

As far as writing these blogs I have explained numerous times I see them as a form of self therapy. I’m just sharing what I think or believe. It has been said if you want to know yourself, write. I’ve been writing for over fifteen years now and I am still learning. I haven’t discovered anything I would classify as a revelation. It hasn’t had any effect on me that I’m aware of.

The only effect I hope for is to have others think about what I’m saying. Yes. I know it can be uncomfortable, self examination should be, but it is also beneficial to your mental health. I’m just offering my view of things, whatever those things happen to be at the moment. If we can’t talk about things, things never get resolved. That’s part of what I was writing about the other day. Things left unsaid, remain unresolved.

It’s a matter of intent. The problem with intent is that the other person may not understand or accept your intent. My intent is to leave a written record of my thoughts and beliefs for future generations. It is something I thought about when I began this journey of exploration. My thought was, if I don’t tell the story someone else will! That could be a problem! But if I leave a written record you can decide for yourself. It’s what I said, but what did I mean? I mean exactly what I say. That should clear everything up.

Things are clearing up.